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Summary

It's not unusual for me to interview a local Boston comedian in the morning, a baseball shoe manufacturer after lunch, and a musician heading to SXSW in the afternoon. That's one of the best aspects of being a freelance writer. Some people would call it scattered. I'd call it keeping engaged and learning.

 

Though I have developed an expertise as one of few writers in America covering stand-up comedy on a weekly basis, I've also written everything from sports profiles to short news pieces and cultivated a knowledge of music, film, and books. I'm always up for the challenge of writing about something new.

 

I have written for a variety of publications, including The Boston Globe, The Boston Phoenix, Blurt, Mental Floss, Playboy, TVSquad.com, The New England Baseball Journal, Paste, No Depression, and others. For seven and a half years, I wrote a weekly column on comedy for The Boston Globe.

Boston Globe Features

Icon_word_16 Rob Potylo and Quiet Desperation

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Rob Potylo was tired of seeing local comedians and musicians leave for New York and LA, so he tried to create an opportunity for them to be seen on TV in their native Boston with "Quiet Desperation," a Boston-based "reality sitcom" on MyTV.
 

Icon_word_16 Sassy Gay Friend Profile

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Former Boston improv performer (and teacher) Brian Gallivan had a YouTube hit with his Sassy Gay Friend character. I caught up with him when he brought the character home for a series of shows at Improv Asylum.
 

Icon_word_16 Interview - Women In Comedy Festival Co-Founder Maria Ciampa

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An interview with Maria Ciampa, one of the co-founders of Boston's Women In Comedy Festival.
 

Icon_word_16 Ron White Interview

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I talk to Ron White about life after the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, living rough, and new projects.
 

Icon_word_16 Inaugural humor fest takes international flair seriously

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My on-deadline review of Bostoons: The First Boston International Comedy Festival in 2010.
 

Icon_word_16 Comedy club owners are laughing, if not to the bank

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From 2008-2009, the Boston comedy club scene seemed in a state of regular expansion. I spoke with the different club owners about the changes to the local comedy landscape.
 

Icon_word_16 Cheech and Chong spark up a new tour

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I get a backstage look at Cheech and Chong on their reunion tour.
 

Icon_word_16 He's Iranian, he's gay - and he's funny

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I profile Mehran, one of the fastest rising comics in Boston.
 

TVSquad.com Features

Icon_word_16 Who Attended the Rally To Restore Sanity and/or Fear?

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I report from the site of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert's Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear in Washington, DC, to find out a bit more about who attended the event. Posted with my photos from the rally.
 

Icon_word_16 New 'Doctor Who' Matt Smith Looks Forward to a New Era

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I talk to Matt Smith, AKA The Eleventh Doctor, about stepping into one of the most iconic roles in sci-fi TV, following in the footsteps of the wildly popular David Tennant.
 

Icon_word_16 Olivia Munn on 'Attack of the Show,' 'Perfect Couples,' and 'Iron Man'

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At the time of this interview, Olivia Munn was still juggling "Attack Of the Show" and "Perfect Couples" and promoting her new book, "Suck It, Wonder Woman." Almost immediately after this went to print, she wound up on "The Daily Show," as well.
 

Icon_word_16 Five British TV Shows to Catch on DVD

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A few British shows you may have missed, like 'Survivors,' 'Black Books,' and 'The IT Crowd,' to catch up with on DVD.
 

Icon_word_16 The Inside Word on 'Conan' From Writer Brian Kiley

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I talk to 'Conan' writer Brian Kiley about what the new TBS show will look like.
 

Icon_word_16 Halloween Zombie Showdown: 'Dead Set' vs 'The Walking Dead'

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A look at two great zombie TV series that aired during Halloween week 2010.
 

Icon_word_16 Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview

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I speak with Andy Richter during Conan O'Brien's 'Tonight Show' stint about late night and 'Andy Barker PI.'
 

Icon_word_16 Jesse Tyler Ferguson talks about Modern Family

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In September 2009, no one knew that 'Modern Family' would become such a smash hit, but it certainly was highly anticipated. I spoke with series star Jesse Tyler Ferguson to get the scoop before the show's debut.
 

Icon_word_16 Early Look: Kids in the Hall Are Creepy Funny in 'Death Comes to Town'

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The Kids In the Hall drew lukewarm reviews for their 2010 mini-series 'Death Comes To Town,' but I thought it was great creepy fun.
 

Music Features and Reviews

Icon_word_16 Mapping It Out

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Amanda Palmer said she was going to take a break in 2011. But first, a new tour, album, and video.
 

Icon_word_16 Delhi 2 Dublin Interview: SXSW 2010

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I interviewed Delhi 2 Dublin on their way to SXSW for AOL's Spinner.com.
 

Icon_word_16 Andy Pratt Interview: SXSW 2010

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Heading into the 2010 edition of SXSW, Andy Pratt was not your usual young hopeful looking to be discovered. That happened in 1973 with his hit "Avenging Annie." In 2010, he was hoping to be rediscovered.
 

Icon_word_16 Mike Mogis and Conor Oberst Prepping New Bright Eyes Album

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A short news item about an upcoming Bright Eyes album for which I interviewed Mike Mogis. For Spinner.com.
 

Icon_word_16 Drive-By Truckers Explore the South With Warren Zevon Cover

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A short news item about the Drive-By Truckers for which I interviewed Patterson Hood. For Spinner.com.
 

Icon_word_16 PJ Harvey and John Parish: A Woman, A Man, A New Album

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I talk to PJ Harvey and John Parish about their musical relationship and collaborations for Spinner.com.
 

Icon_word_16 CD Review – Allison Moorer, ‘Crows’

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My review of Allison Moorer's CD 'Crows' for The Boston Globe.
 

Icon_word_16 CD Review – Eulogies ‘Tear the Fences Down’

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My review of Eulogies' album 'Tear the Fences Down' for The Boston Phoenix.
 

Work History

Self-Employee

Boston, MA, United States
Jan 1997 - Present
Freelance Writer 

As a freelance writer, I have written for Playboy, Mental Floss, The Boston Globe, The Boston Phoenix, TVSquad.com, Spinner.com, No Depression, Blurt, Paste, The New England Baseball Journal, The New England Ski Journal, and a variety of other publications.

AOL

2008 - Present
TV Blogger 

I write about TV for AOL's TVSuad.com site, interviewing actors and comedians and writing reviews and features. Interviews have included Olivia Munn, Andy Richter, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Karen Gillan, Matt Smith, Katharine McPhee, Lisa Kudrow, 'Simpsons' producer Al Jean, 'Conan' writer Brian Kiley, and Brian Posehn.

The Boston Globe

Boston, MA, United States
Jun 2001 - Nov 2008
Globe Correspondent -- Comedy Notes Columnist 

For seven and a half years, I covered comedy for the Boston Globe, writing the Comedy Notes column. I profiled local and national comedians and covered the club scene. Interviews included George Carlin, Steven Wright, Lily Tomlin, Jon Stewart, Lewis Black, Eugene Mirman, Joan Rivers, Bill Maher, The Kids In the Hall, Ron White, Janeane Garofalo, Patton Oswalt, Denis Leary, Kathy Griffin, Dick Gregory, Mort Sahl, Jackie Mason, Barry Crimmins, Howard Zinn, Patrice O'Neal, Joel McHale, Henry Rollins, Jeff Garlin, and John Oliver.

Education

SUNY Buffalo

Buffalo, NY, United States
Sep 1991 - Jun 1996
Bachelors, English/International Studies